www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Alcohol consumption in 2009 saw the sharpest year-on-year decline since 1948, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) suggest. The data showed a 6% fall in 2009 – the fourth annual drop in five years. The association said UK drinkers were now consuming 13% less alcohol than in 2004, below the EU average. The organisation said UK taxes on beer remained the second highest duty rate in EU – 10 times higher than in Germany and seven times higher than in France. …
Neil Williams, from the BBPA, said while alcohol consumption had historically fallen during recessions, the figures showed a long-term downward trend. “A key factor is that beer is by far the worst hit sector and we feel that it’s the government’s taxation policy in relation to beer that’s causing that,” he told the BBC. … (Source: Google Alcohol News, 9/03/10) bbc.co.uk, 9/03/10 Comment: Good to know that taxes reduce the alcohol consumption.